Motorway rules: lanes, signals and breaking down

Motorways leave less room for mistakes than other roads. Traffic is faster, so you have less time to react, and the rules about lanes, signals and stopping are stricter than anywhere else. They're also a whole topic in the theory test.

The rules here are from the Highway Code, mainly rules 253 to 278.

Who can and can't use a motorway

These must not use a motorway:

• pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
• riders with a provisional motorcycle licence, and motorcycles under 50 cc
• agricultural vehicles, certain slow-moving vehicles, and vehicles carrying oversized loads without special permission
• powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Learner car drivers can now have motorway lessons, but only with an approved driving instructor (ADI), in a car with dual controls that's showing L plates (or D plates in Wales). You can't practise on a motorway with a friend or family member.

Joining the motorway

You'll usually join from a slip road on the left. Traffic already on the motorway has priority, so use the slip road to build up speed and match the traffic in the left-hand lane, then merge into a safe gap.

• Don't cross the solid white lines that separate the slip road from the motorway, and don't use the hard shoulder to join.
• If the slip road carries on as an extra lane, stay in it.
• Stay in the left lane long enough to get used to the speed before you think about overtaking.

Lanes and overtaking

Keep in the left lane unless you're overtaking, and move back to the left once it's safe. Sitting in the middle lane when the left is clear is a common habit, and it's against the Highway Code.

Only overtake on the right. Before you pull out, check your mirrors, judge the speed of anything coming up behind you (it can be closing very fast), glance over your shoulder into the blind spot, then signal in good time. Don't cut in on the vehicle you've passed.

Don't overtake on the left or move into a lane on your left to get past someone. The exception is slow, queuing traffic: when all lanes are moving at similar speeds, you can keep up with your lane even if that means passing traffic on your right. Don't weave between lanes.

On a motorway with three or more lanes, some vehicles must not use the right-hand lane, including anything towing a trailer and most large goods vehicles and coaches.

If there's a vehicle or people stopped on the hard shoulder or in an emergency area and you're in the left lane, move over a lane if it's safe, to give them more room.

Signs and signals

• Amber flashing lights warn of a hazard ahead, such as an incident or fog. Slow down, and only speed up again once you pass a signal that isn't flashing, a national speed limit sign or the word END, and you're sure it's safe.
• A red X, or red flashing lights, mean a lane is closed. People or stopped vehicles may be in it. You must move out of the lane and must not drive in it until a sign shows a speed limit or END. If every lane shows red lights, the road is closed.
• A speed limit in a red circle on an overhead sign is the maximum, and you must not go faster. It may be lower than 70 mph to manage traffic or protect people ahead.

Hard shoulders and emergency areas

Where there's a hard shoulder, you must not use it except in an emergency, or when the police, traffic officers or a sign tell you to.

Some motorways use the hard shoulder as an extra lane when traffic is heavy. You can only drive in it when a speed limit is shown above it. A red X or a blank sign above it means it's for emergencies only.

On motorways without a hard shoulder, or where it's used as a lane, there are emergency areas along the road. They're marked with blue signs showing an orange SOS phone symbol, and the surface may be orange. Only use them in an emergency.

Reflective studs

At night, the coloured studs tell you where you are on the road:

Stopping and breaking down

You must not stop on a motorway, its slip roads, the hard shoulder, an emergency area or the verge, except in an emergency or when told to by the police, traffic officers, signs or red flashing lights. That includes stopping to make a phone call. You must not pick up or drop off anyone, or walk on the motorway, except in an emergency. If you miss your exit, carry on to the next one: you must never reverse, cross the central reservation or drive against the traffic.

If your car develops a problem, leave at the next exit or pull into a services if you can. If you can't, the Highway Code's advice is go left, get safe, get help:

1. Go left. Move into the left lane and onto the hard shoulder or into an emergency area if you can. Stop as far left as possible with your wheels turned to the left, and put your hazard lights on.
2. Get safe. If it's safe, get out on the side away from traffic, and get behind the safety barrier. Don't go back to your car, even if it's raining or cold, and don't try to fix it. Never put a warning triangle out on a motorway.
3. Get help. Use the free emergency phone or call a breakdown service. Face the traffic while you talk.

If you can't get to the left or can't get out safely, stay in the car with your seat belt on and hazard lights on, and call 999 for the police straight away.

Leaving the motorway

Watch for the signs counting down to your exit, move into the left lane well before it, and signal left in good time. Slow down on the slip road. After a long time at motorway speed, 50 mph can feel like 30 mph, so check your speedometer, especially as some slip roads have sharp bends.

What the theory test asks

• Which lane should you normally use? The left lane, unless you're overtaking.
• What does a red X above your lane mean? The lane is closed: move out of it and don't drive in it.
• What colour studs mark the edge next to the central reservation? Amber.
• Where do green studs show? Where slip roads and lay-bys join the main carriageway.
• What should you do if you miss your exit? Carry on to the next one.
• Where should you wait after breaking down? Well away from your car and the traffic, behind the barrier if there is one.
• Can learner drivers use a motorway? Only with an approved driving instructor in a dual-control car showing L plates.

The Motorway Rules topic in the app has practice questions on all of these, each with an explanation.